Educational Service Unit # 13
SERVING THE PANHANDLE OF NEBRASKA
April, 2016 Newsletter
Scottsbluff Site
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
Phone: (308) 635-3696
FAX: (308) 635-0680
Chadron Site
Crites Hall
Chadron State College
Chadron, NE 69337
Phone: (308) 432-6495
Sidney Site
1114 Toledo Street
Sidney, NE 69162
Phone: (308) 254-4677
FAX: (308) 254-5371
Mission Statement
Educational Service Unit #13...
Striving to achieve educational excellence for all learners
through strong partnerships, service, and leadership.
ADMINISTRATION
New Sixpence grant connects Panhandle child care programs with public schools to promote early childhood development
The Trustees of the Sixpence Early Learning Fund announced this week that the Panhandle will be one of seven Nebraska communities to receive new funding to school districts in partnerships with local licensed early care and education providers for infants and toddlers at risk. The Panhandle’s award of $675,000 joins North Platte, Kearney, and Falls City, for grants totaling $1,302,322 after a competitive application and review process. Sixpence, a collaborative funding structure involving the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Nebraska Department of Education and private sector investors has issued grants to community partnerships statewide since 2008, now totaling 35 communities. Traditionally, these Sixpence grants are awarded to school districts working with other local agencies that meet the statutory requirements governing the use of Sixpence funds providing either center-based or home-based family engagement programs. This latest round of grants is the first time Sixpence funds have been made available to partnerships including licensed child care providers with a different set of statutory requirements specifically supported by Nebraska’s Step Up to Quality rating and improvement system.
According to recent data, approximately 30,000 infants and toddlers, or more than 40 percent of Nebraska children between birth and age 3, face risk factors that threaten their chances of arriving at kindergarten developmentally on par with their peers. These children are more likely to struggle in the K-12 system, attain a lower level of education, enter the criminal justice system as offenders, develop chronic health problems and earn less as working adults. Neuroscientific, sociological and even economic evidence suggests that stimulating and supportive experiences in the first years of life encourage the emergence of cognitive skills, behaviors and character traits that drive academic success and steer children toward healthier, more productive life outcomes.
While child development experts agree that parents play the most important role in children’s earliest learning and developmental experiences, it is also true that child care is a reality for Nebraskans who must participate in the workforce to provide for their families. The new Sixpence Child Care Partnership grants ensure that more infants and toddlers are being cared for in environments that provide the kinds of early learning experiences known to narrow the achievement gap.
The Panhandle Application was submitted with a regional vision of Early Childhood. Nine school districts have partnered with ESU 13 to create a system for working with staff and serving up to 286 at-risk infants and toddlers in 16 child care programs throughout the Panhandle. The Sixpence grantee school districts are as follows: Chardon Public Schools, Gering Public Schools, and Sidney Public Schools with additional partnering districts in Mitchell, Scottsbluff, Garden County, Kimball, Potter-Dix, and Creek Valley.
“The collaborative spirit with which this application was submitted, creates the beginning of many stepping stones for increasing the quality experiences for our earliest learners while at the same time creating a child care workforce of the highest quality.” Jeff West – ESU 13 Administrator.
“The success of Sixpence over the past decade shows Nebraskans understand the value of programs that help parents put kids on the path to success early in life,” said Amy Bornemeier, Sixpence Administrator and Associate Vice President of Early Childhood Programs at Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, which administers the grant program under the direction of the Sixpence Board of Trustees. “Connecting licensed child care providers with school districts and other local partners allows communities to make better use of the existing resources, facilities and early childhood workers available to them.”
According to Bornemeier, the new Sixpence Child Care Partnership grants also play a part in addressing the need to grow the number of skilled early childhood professionals throughout the state. “Working with parents to support our state’s youngest children’s early development requires professionals who are experienced and skilled,” said Bornemeier. “Right now, Nebraska’s skilled early childhood workforce can only reach about 7 or 8 percent of our infants and toddlers at risk. If we are going to get ahead of that problem, we need to find new ways to attract, cultivate and retain more professionals in this field. The new grant awards move us in the right direction by using Sixpence’s blended public-private funds to deliver professional development, technical assistance and other resources to the child care providers that Nebraska’s working parents rely upon.”
The new Sixpence grants are also connected to Nebraska’s newly launched Step Up to Quality child care rating and improvement system. Step Up to Quality, a collaboration between the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Nebraska Department of Education, provides training and professional development, formal education and coaching opportunities to participating child care providers and their staff. The initiative assists providers in understanding and meeting accepted quality standards, and conducts assessment and data analysis for quality improvement. Step Up to Quality also gives parents the information they need to identify and choose quality care environments for their youngest children. Licensed child care providers involved in the new Sixpence partnerships are required to be enrolled in Step Up to Quality and achieve a Step 3 rating on a 5-step quality scale by end of the third year of their Sixpence grant.
SOAR (Sharing Opportunities and Achieving Results)
Staff developers, principals, and teachers enjoyed six days of training in the Danielson Instructional Framework for Teaching to become Trainers so that they can implement the instructional Framework in area districts. The training modeled activities that could be used with school staffs as they become familiar with the Domains, Components and Elements of the Framework. Videos, discussions, sorting activities, reflection writing, and other protocols were used throughout the six days. Creek Valley, Gering, Minatare, Morrill and Scottsbluff attended the training and are in some level of implementation of this instructional model.
Quiz Bowl Team
Class Trip!
Prom
Head Start/Early Head Start
Classrooms were busy the week of April 10th celebrating the Week of the Young Child. Each day had a different theme Music Monday (Sing, dance, celebrate and learn), Taco Tuesday (Healthy eating and fitness at home and school), Work together Wednesday (Work together, build together, learn together), Artsy Thursday (Think, problem solve, create) and Family Friday (Sharing family stories). Currently some classrooms are busy hatching butterflies and planning end of the year celebrations.
Staff are busy with end of the year Parent Teacher Conferences, making sure everyone who is transitioning to Kindergarten is registered. Multiple surveys are being completed: Parent Surveys, Staff Surveys, Training Surveys gathering data for next year.
We are currently taking applications for next year for Head Start (3 to 5 year olds) and Early Head Start (prenatal to 3 year olds) enrollment. Head Start provides services in Scottsbluff, Kimball, Morrill, and Cheyenne Counties, and Early Head Start provides services in Scottsbluff County. Applications can be completed at all Head Start locations or you may contact
Jeanne Morgan Data Manager at 308-633-3712.
TECHNOLOGY
Tips for email safety
courtesy of CenturyLink
(Read the full article here: http://www.centurylink.com/help/help/index.php?assetid=122)
- Don't open emails from someone you don't know or trust. If it seems fishy, it probably is.
- Avoid sending any sensitive information over email. When you send a message, you no longer have control over what is done with it or to whom it is forwarded. Common email scams employ email messages and even websites that look official, but are in fact attempts to steal your identity to commit fraud. This is the activity commonly known as phishing. Sensitive information such as passwords, bank account numbers and social security numbers should never be sent via email. Legitimate companies would never ask for personal information in an email.
- Never open an attachment within an email from a company or person you don't know (or that you were not expecting). Attachments may contain viruses, which can seriously damage your computer.
- Never reply to or click on links inside spam emails. Replying to, clicking on links within, or even unsubscribing from spam emails typically only informs the sender that they have found an active email address to which they'll send more spam emails.
- Remember to log out/sign out, especially if you're using a public computer, such as at the library or an Internet cafe, and close the browser. It's quick, easy, and may save your account from unwanted trespassers.
- Change your password frequently and don't share it with anyone. It's recommended to change passwords regularly, particularly if you currently view and manage your email on a public computer. Use a mix of letters and numbers, as those passwords are harder to break. The password should not be easy to guess -- a common mistake is to use the company's name in the password or something generic such as "1234." Never share your password with anyone.
Avoid unsolicited bulk mail. Unsolicited bulk email messages can fill up your mailbox and become extremely frustrating. To avoid this predicament:
- Don't give your email address to sites you don't trust.
- Don't post your email address to public places online like message boards, comment boards, or even your personal website.
- Keep your personal email private except from people that you really want to hear from. You can set up a second email account for registering for public Web sites.
- Use an alternate email address when buying a product from a site for the first time or signing up for a new service.
Psychology Department
Resilience (GRIT); The Path to Success?
The ability to personally or professionally succeed despite adversity stems from resilience, or coping effectively with difficulties that might otherwise lead to anxiety, depression, withdrawal, physical symptoms, or poor achievement. Considerable research has revealed that resilience results from positive social relationships,
positive attitudes and emotions, the ability to control one’s own behavior, and
feelings of competence (Doll, B., Zucker, S., & Brehm, K. (2004). Resilient
classrooms: Creating healthy environments for learning. New York: Guilford Press.)
Factors that Contribute to Resiliency
Attitudes and Emotions
l Positive attitudes (optimism, determination, problem solving)
l Positive emotions (love, gratitude, forgiveness)
l Appropriate expression of emotions
Competence
l Academic success
l Regular school attendance and homework completion
l Developing talents (outside academic achievement)
Social Competence
l Connectedness
l Structure and clear expectations
l Helping others
Physical Health
l Medical care
l Exercise
l Adequate sleep
l Positive stress control
How Schools Can Foster Resiliency
Resiliency gives students the ability to deal with challenges and adapt to new or
difficult circumstances in a positive, productive manner. There are number of ways
for schools to foster resilience.
1. Provide a caring, supportive learning environment. Feeling cared for and safe
builds students’ resiliency. Promote positive social connections between staff
members and students, students and their peers, and home and school.
2. Foster positive attitudes. Help students believe that they can succeed if they
try. Provide situations in which students are able to succeed. Frame failure as
a learning opportunity. Teach them to reevaluate and adjust strategies that
may not be working.
3. Nurture positive emotions. Demonstrate and give students the chance to
practice positive emotions, such as optimism, respect, forgiveness, and
empathy. Train staff members to reinforce emotional intelligence, praise
students for successes, and avoid judgmental or harsh criticism for failure.
4. Foster academic self-determination and feelings of competence. Provide
consistent clear expectations. Help students develop a menu of homework
and study strategies. Encourage students to regularly attend school and
complete homework as well as to develop talents in activities they enjoy.
Teach them to set realistic goals and obtain necessary resources.
5. Encourage volunteerism. Social competence and resilience are fostered by
helping others at home, in school, and in the community. Create and
promote a variety of opportunities for students to contribute to the well-
being of others both on and off campus.
6. Teach peace-building skills. Learning how to be appropriately assertive
without being aggressive fosters resilience. Teach conflict resolution and
peer-mediation skills, strategies for standing up to bullies, and violence-
prevention strategies.
7. Ensure healthy habits. Good physical health prepares the body and mind to
be more resilient and contributes to school success. Encourage good nutrition
through school food offerings, adequate sleep, and exercise through
education, and increased opportunities for exercise. Facilitate stress
reduction by incorporating positive stress control strategies, such as
meditation, controlled breathing, yoga, and exercise into school curricula.
Adapted from: “Resiliency: Strategies for Parents and Educators,” Helping Children at Home and School II: Handouts for Families and Educators,
NASP, 2004.
Alternative Education
Enjoy the VALTS 4th Quarter Newsletter!
http://pub.lucidpress.com/e25c4672-787c-42cd-8920-da57d6b4a8ff/
News from the Wellness Committee
Activities in Scottsbluff, Sidney and Chadron that will help to relax you, encourage you, and just for the fun of it! Take time to do more than work!
April 30 SRMC News Health Fair, Cheyenne Community Center from 8-12 noon.
April 30th Keep Scottsbluff/Gering Beautiful Pharmaceutical Take Back Day, watch the paper to see more details as they are not available at this time. Get rid of your old medicine!
If you know of any other events that we could share in any of our towns that will help us with all types of wellness: exercise, mental, relaxation, mediation, etc, let Barb Pageler or Katie Carrizales know.
Gyms in Scottsbluff
We are always wanting to lose weight or get in shape but where do we go? There are several places in Scottsbluff that we will introduce you to this month.
Next Level Fitness is at the Monument Mall on the west end by Durham Sports. Isaac Holscher is the owner of this gym and offers personal training. He will work one on one or in a group if several of your friends want to work together. Isaac will assess your current fitness level and build from there. He uses free weights, bands, rowing machine, stationary bikes, treadmills and much more. His phone number is 308-225- 1132. His prices are $45 per session or 10 for $350. I have worked with him for a year and feel much better. Before I started I told him that I do not like to exercise or sweat. Now I don’t mind the sweat, in fact it helps me to know that I am actually doing something! I am amazing my family that I have stuck with exercise this long and enjoy it!
Crossfit is also at the same location in the Mall. Isaac and Crystal Stock share the area. Crystal has many pieces of equipment that will help to make you stronger. He and Crystal use basically the same equipment so that makes it nice. Her number is 30/-227- 0726. Her prices are $45 a month for her class. This may be different but close to it.
24/7 is new gym located at 615 South Beltline East in Scottsbluff. As the name says it is open 24 hours 7 days a week. They will give you a key fob to let you access the gym whenever you need to. The membership is reasonable at $30 monthly for single and $50 for joint membership. Children can also join for $10. Per child. Children will not have 24 hour access unless accompanied by an adult. Adam Gollas, the owner, stated that if several people went together to join he may give you a discount. He did say he would work with the ESU on payroll deduction.
Anytime Fitness is located at 1700 Broadway (the old Joann Fabrics building). Preston Bowdre is the Operation Manager does not do payroll deductions. His gym is open on Monday through Thursday from 8-8, Friday’s 8-6, and Saturday’s from 8-4, closed on Sundays. When you purchase a membership for $56.00 a month you will also get a key fob so you can workout at your leisure. Anytime fitness has a wide variety of machines, free weights, classes, tanning and a hydromassage table that looks really nice. They offer 12 classes a week: Zumba, Tabata (high intensity), spin, a Summer Shed (circuit class), and a boot camp. With your membership you will have access to a personal trainer who will work with you one time, nutritional recommendations. After five weeks you will go through another evaluation to see how your program is working for you. You can purchase more personal training or small group training with up to 10 people.
Other places in Scottsbluff are:
YMCA ( free weights, machines, swimming, classes of all kinds) ,
The Warehouse Fitness Center at 422 Ave. B (weight machines, free weights, Zumba, and other classes),
Jazzercise at 1603 Broadway (you can dance with Sara Peterson and Laura Lee) .
You can always walk the Monument Pathways along the water starting at the YMCA and head west to the Trails West Riverwalk.
There is also a path in Gering on U Street that will take you to the base of the Monument and then north to Country Club Road. Watch out for snakes by the Monument!
If you know of more places to exercise please let me know and I will report on it in the next newsletter.
Enjoy a new you!
Healthy Recipe of the Month
Slow Rub Slow-Cooked Chicken
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5-6 hours
Serves 5-6
1 white onion, sliced
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon white pepper or finely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
5-6 pound free range organic chicken, rinsed, and patted dry with paper towels.
1. Cover the bottom of a slow cooker with the sliced onions.
2. Mix all spices in a small bowl and using your hands, rub the spice mixture all over the whole chicken.
3. Place the spiced chicken on top of the onions in the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours. There is no need to add any liquid to the slow cooker- the chicken will cook in its own juices.
The last of our RECIPES From our staff Christmas Carry-in
Green Beans and Tomatoes From Barb Pegeler
Serves – 12 Active time – 20 minutes Total Time – 1 hour 20 minutes
Ingredients
8 slices thick cut bacon, cut in 1 inch pieces
1 large onion, diced
2 pounds green beans, trimmed
2 (14.5 oz.) cans whole tomatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
¼ to ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Directions
1. Put bacon in a large pot over medium heat and cook for a couple of minutes, until fat starts to render. Add onion and stir. Let onion cook with bacon another 3 minutes; drain off most of the fat.
2. Add green beans and pour in tomatoes (juice and all). Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Stir gently to combine. Put lid on pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally.
Hearty Bean Casserole from Diane Renander
1 pound ground beef
4 slices bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
½ cup chopped onion
16 oz. Baked Style Beans (Bush’s Original)
15.5 oz. can Red Kidney Beans, drained and washed
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
Heat oven to 350°. In large skillet, brown ground beef, bacon and onion; drain. Add all remaining ingredients; Mix will. Pour into ungreased 2 quart casserole. Cover. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Microwave Directions: In 2 quart microwave safe casserole, microwave bacon on High for 4-5 minutes until crisp. Remove and drain. Crumble ground beef into casserole and stir in onion. Microwave on high for 4-5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Drain. Stir in bacon and remaining ingredients. Microwave on high for 8-10 minutes until thoroughly heated, stirring once halfway through cooking.
Oreo Truffles from Ashley Meyer
Ingredients
1 – 16 oz. package Oreo Cookies
1 – 8 oz. package cream cheese, fat free
2 – 8 oz. package semi sweet baking chocolate, melted
Directions
Crush 9 of the cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.) Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter..
Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. (Any leftover chocolate can be stored at room temperature for another use.) Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. Store leftover truffles, covered, in refrigerator.
Slow Rub Slow-Cooked Chicken
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5-6 hours
Serves 5-6
1 white onion, sliced
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon white pepper or finely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
5-6 pound free range organic chicken, rinsed, and patted dry with paper towels
1. Cover the bottom of a slow cooker with the sliced onions.
2. Mix all spices in a small bowl and using your hands, rub the spice mixture all over the whole chicken.
3. Place the spiced chicken on top of the onions in the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours. There is no need to add any liquid to the slow cooker—the chicken will cook in its own juices.